Meet the Founder
Shannon Szymanski

My name is Shannon Szymanski, and I’m a proud young adult living with Spastic Hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy. I am also the founder of Life Through CP, a platform dedicated to advancing disability awareness, education, and inclusion through lived experience and advocacy.

After graduating from high school in 2013, I enrolled in several post-secondary programs, including Rising Stars and Macomb Academy. Unfortunately, ongoing accessibility challenges, particularly the lack of adequate restroom accommodations, limited my ability to fully participate and succeed in these environments.

In response, I returned to my former high school to join a Community-Based Instruction (CBI) program, an evidence-based approach that equips students with disabilities with hands-on learning, real-world experiences, and essential life skills. This program played a pivotal role in developing my independence, confidence, and workplace readiness, forming the foundation for my adult life.

While I once believed that a traditional college path was the best route for me, I’ve since realized that alternative educational pathways better align with my personal needs and long-term goals.

It wasn’t until I transitioned out of school in 2020 that I discovered my true calling: disability advocacy. Since then, I have partnered with nonprofit organizations and used digital platforms to share my story, amplify the voices of others, and advocate for meaningful change within the disability community.